Oil Filter Relocation: Junkyard Builder

This is a great monthly story because it gives us a perfect excuse to hit the junkyard. We were trolling for S-10 V8 swap parts the other day when we noticed a factory oil filter relocation part on an '88 S-10 Blazer 4x4 with a 4.3L V6. We decided it was cool and unbolted it. We cut the factory aluminum/rubber lines because the factory hoses were too clumsy and probably wouldn’t fit anything we had anyway. This particular oil filter relocation adapter also incorporated a second set of fittings that fed an oil cooler located in the radiator. The best part is that we bought it for $4.50, and there are probably other factory systems just as cheap. By employing a few minor fabrication skills, this oil filter relocation block could be used to direct oil to an aftermarket oil cooler. In fact, we might even use this part on our S-10, which means we could purchase a factory V6 radiator with an oil cooler and use the factory lines.

After we removed the oil filter relocation adapter at the boneyard, we immediately found another 4x4 Blazer equipped with a similar adapter without the oil cooler lines, so we know both options are available. Once we’d cleaned the filter mount thoroughly, we uncovered all kinds of cool ways you could adapt this piece to a current car project. If there’s one negative to this adapter, it is that the filter is a bit small, but that also means it might fit in areas where a larger filter would not. Check it out.